Japan must stay prudent on Taiwan question: spokeswoman

Japan should stay prudent on the Taiwan question and stop sending erroneous signals to secessionists, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing in Beijing on Thursday.

She made the comments in response to a media query about the recent interactions between the Japanese government and Taiwan secessionists.

"Awarding a medal to someone who advocates Taiwan secession raises questions about Japan's intentions. Does Japan mean to encourage and embolden separatists, and what kind of signal does it intend to send to the Taiwan separatist forces? The Taiwan question is at the very core of China's core interests and concerns the political foundation of China-Japan relations as well as Japan's basic credibility," she said.

"This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration. China urges Japan to deeply reflect on its responsibility for the war crimes in history, abide by the one-China principle and the spirit of four China-Japan political documents, exercise prudence in its words and actions on the Taiwan question, and stop sending any wrong signals to the Taiwan secessionist forces," said Mao.

Rare wildlife has been spotted in snow-covered Greater Khingan Mountains of northeast China, including an adult lynx and a family of moose.

A group of photographers captured the animals on video while traversing the mountains, which are part of the Nanweng River National Nature Reserve in Heilongjiang Province.

In the footage, a lone lynx, alert and strong, is seen wandering and scouting the snowy forest.